Results from the first autologous grafting of adult human testis tissue : a case report

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Fertility restoration using autologous testicular tissue transplantation is relevant for infertile men surviving from childhood cancer and, possibly, in men with absent or incomplete spermatogenesis resulting in the lack of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (non-obstructive azoospermia, NOA). Currently, testicular tissue from pre-pubertal boys extracted before treatment with gonadotoxic cancer therapy can be cryopreserved with good survival of spermatogonial stem cells. However, strategies for fertility restoration, after successful cancer treatment, are still experimental and no clinical methods have yet been developed. Similarly, no clinically available treatments can help men with NOA to become biological fathers after failed attempts of testicular surgical sperm retrieval. We present a case of a 31-year-old man with NOA who had three pieces of testis tissue (each ∼2 × 4 × 2 mm3) extracted and cryopreserved in relation to performing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE). Approximately 2 years after mTESE, the thawed tissue pieces were engrafted in surgically created pockets bilaterally under the scrotal skin. Follow-up was performed after 2, 4, and 6 months with assessment of reproductive hormones and ultrasound of the scrotum. After 6 months, all engrafted tissue was extracted and microscopically analyzed for the presence of spermatozoa. Furthermore, parts of the extracted tissue were analyzed histologically and by immunohistochemical analysis. Active blood flow in the engrafted tissue was demonstrated by doppler ultrasound after 6 months. No spermatozoa were found in the extracted tissue. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated graft survival with intact clear tubules and normal cell organization. Sertoli cells and spermatocytes with normal morphology were located near the basement membrane. MAGE-A and VASA positive spermatogonia/spermatocytes were detected together with SOX9 positive Sertoli cells. Spermatocytes and/or Sertoli cells positive for γH2AX was also detected. In summary, following autologous grafting of frozen-thawed testis tissue under the scrotal skin in a man with NOA, we demonstrated graft survival after 6 months. No mature spermatozoa were detected; however, this is likely due to the pre-existing spermatogenic failure.

Errataetall:

CommentIn: Hum Reprod. 2024 Feb 1;39(2):282-284. - PMID 38140704

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:39

Enthalten in:

Human reproduction (Oxford, England) - 39(2024), 2 vom: 01. Feb., Seite 303-309

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Jensen, Christian Fuglesang S [VerfasserIn]
Mamsen, Linn Salto [VerfasserIn]
Wang, Danyang [VerfasserIn]
Fode, Mikkel [VerfasserIn]
Giwercman, Aleksander [VerfasserIn]
Jørgensen, Niels [VerfasserIn]
Ohl, Dana A [VerfasserIn]
Fedder, Jens [VerfasserIn]
Hoffmann, Eva R [VerfasserIn]
Yding Andersen, Claus [VerfasserIn]
Sønksen, Jens [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Case Reports
Fertility restoration
Journal Article
Male infertility
Non-obstructive azoospermia
Spermatogonial stem cells
Testis tissue

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 02.02.2024

Date Revised 02.02.2024

published: Print

CommentIn: Hum Reprod. 2024 Feb 1;39(2):282-284. - PMID 38140704

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1093/humrep/dead243

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM366313584